The Idea of World Government, Why Publishers Love Lincoln, and More: This Week in the Book Pages

Mr. Mazower's intellectual history of world government is highly compelling. But his book's greatest merit is the author's treatment of the practical realities of the U.N. He gives clear-minded attention to a crucial, oft-neglected question: What real impact have international organizations had on the world? His answer implicitly challenges both the realist and liberal camps in international relations.

The Wall Street Journal also has an interesting piece on the many books on President Lincoln, and why he is a favorite of publishers. Here's a sample:

What is it about Abraham Lincoln? Publishers say he possesses a perfect confluence of salable qualities, reaching both Civil War buffs and those interested in general military history. Readers of historical biography are also crazy about him, because he led the country through what many believe was its most decisive moment. He even attracts those who don't usually read biographies because he embodies the enduring belief that any American, no matter his or her background, can reach the highest echelons of power.